Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here XJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.

Alternator replacement on a 1998 XJ. (1998 only)

Old 05-18-2019, 11:47 AM
  #16  
Banned
Thread Starter
 
BimmerJeeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 1,744
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L i6
Default

That went right over my head
BimmerJeeper is offline  
Old 05-18-2019, 12:51 PM
  #17  
CF Veteran
 
Ralph77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 7,355
Likes: 0
Received 1,530 Likes on 1,173 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Default

I am pretty sure I did everything the top. Frankly an alternator is a piece of cake. You have more of a chance of busting a battery tray bolt then you do having problems with the alternator removal and reinstall IMO.
Ralph77 is online now  
Old 05-18-2019, 12:55 PM
  #18  
CF Veteran
 
XJwonders's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: west chester, pa
Posts: 19,216
Likes: 0
Received 39 Likes on 35 Posts
Year: 1999
Engine: 4.0
Default

Originally Posted by Ralph77
I am pretty sure I did everything the top. Frankly an alternator is a piece of cake. You have more of a chance of busting a battery tray bolt then you do having problems with the alternator removal and reinstall IMO.
Well I mean look at who you are talking to. Lol
XJwonders is offline  
Old 05-18-2019, 01:30 PM
  #19  
Banned
Thread Starter
 
BimmerJeeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 1,744
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L i6
Default

I have no idea how to remove the battery tray bolts.

Anyone know what size the battery try bolts are?
Rusted solid. I can't even get the right socket size.

Any clue how I can remove the battery bolts?


Last edited by BimmerJeeper; 05-18-2019 at 02:00 PM.
BimmerJeeper is offline  
Old 05-18-2019, 01:51 PM
  #20  
CF Veteran
 
XJwonders's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: west chester, pa
Posts: 19,216
Likes: 0
Received 39 Likes on 35 Posts
Year: 1999
Engine: 4.0
Default

You might need to buy another Jeep
XJwonders is offline  
Old 05-18-2019, 02:59 PM
  #21  
CF Veteran
 
jordan96xj's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Syracuse, NY
Posts: 2,139
Received 89 Likes on 78 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Default

Wire brush, or dremel with wire brush attachments. Clean them up as well as you can. Soak them in penetrating oil. Then work them off carefully. Little to the right, little to the left. Repeat. Mine were that bad, and they came off. The studs are pretty solid. But cleaning the rust off first is important.
jordan96xj is offline  
Old 05-18-2019, 03:14 PM
  #22  
Banned
Thread Starter
 
BimmerJeeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 1,744
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L i6
Default

I ended up using fluted bolt extractors.
I snapped off 2 bolts, and then used an impact to get the 3rd one off.
Thank god I have one bolt left to hold the battery.
BimmerJeeper is offline  
Old 05-18-2019, 03:23 PM
  #23  
Banned
Thread Starter
 
BimmerJeeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 1,744
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L i6
Default

Next road block.

Everyone says to remove alternator from the top after removing battery tray.
Yet, the A/C lines are clearly in the way.
Have you ever removed an alternator from the top around the A/C lines?

BimmerJeeper is offline  
Old 05-18-2019, 03:24 PM
  #24  
Banned
Thread Starter
 
BimmerJeeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 1,744
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L i6
Default

I guess I can try to detach it and remove it from the bottom.
If I can't get it out of the bottom because of the frame rail,
I will reinstall it and take it to a professional.
BimmerJeeper is offline  
Old 05-18-2019, 03:27 PM
  #25  
CF Veteran
 
Ralph77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 7,355
Likes: 0
Received 1,530 Likes on 1,173 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Default

Can you take a wider picture?
Why do you AC lines look low?
Ralph77 is online now  
Old 05-18-2019, 03:41 PM
  #26  
CF Veteran
 
Ralph77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 7,355
Likes: 0
Received 1,530 Likes on 1,173 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Default

Originally Posted by Ralph77
Can you take a wider picture?
Why do you AC lines look low?
Never mind. Just an optical illusion with the picture I guess.
You should clear those. I did.
Ralph77 is online now  
Old 05-18-2019, 05:38 PM
  #27  
CF Veteran
 
97grand4.0's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: syracuse ny
Posts: 2,764
Received 170 Likes on 158 Posts
Year: 1997
Model: Grand Cherokee (ZJ)
Engine: 4.0, new lifters valve job with new springs and exhaust valves, preload set with shims
Default

Originally Posted by BimmerJeeper
I guess I can try to detach it and remove it from the bottom.
If I can't get it out of the bottom because of the frame rail,
I will reinstall it and take it to a professional.
It's tight but it will go. One way or the other . Push the lines out of the way and it'll squeeze by. Patients are a virtue, at least my psychologist said so.
Take it to a professional? No pls, anything but a professional. Just curious, did you test the old at napa before you bought a new one, or maybe get a free on board test at one of the big box stores , or even full field the alternator to see if it puts out 18V? just curious afterthoughts.

Last edited by 97grand4.0; 05-18-2019 at 05:43 PM.
97grand4.0 is offline  
Old 05-18-2019, 05:39 PM
  #28  
Banned
Thread Starter
 
BimmerJeeper's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 1,744
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L i6
Default

Removal from the top was a dead end, since not one thread mentions the A/C lines removal from the top.
Well, I don't have a clue how to work on A/C systems, so I figured I'd try from the bottom.

As I sat under the XJ, I pondered how the hell I would ever reinstall the alternator from such an awkward angle with only 2 arms.
Then I could not even loosen the alternator bolts. Only the bracket bolts.

Gave up, and said **** this, I cleaned the the grounds near the alternator and called it a day.
6 hours and I did not even touch the alternator.

Yet again, the XJ is complete nightmare to do even the most basic repair on.
Most idiotic location for an alternator I have ever seen on any car in my lifetime.
Even the serp belt path is a disaster where you can't even see some of the pulleys to route around.
I'll stick to working on my Bimmers. Jeeper will need a professional mechanic.

Last edited by BimmerJeeper; 05-18-2019 at 05:43 PM.
BimmerJeeper is offline  
Old 05-19-2019, 04:28 PM
  #29  
CF Veteran
 
unidentifiedbomb's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2011
Location: DE
Posts: 6,098
Received 247 Likes on 206 Posts
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I6 4.0
Default

Alternators take my dog 10 minutes to do, he's a good boy. I usually pay the neighbor's child to come over and change it though, small hands and he gets it done. I'd recommend you go ask your neighbor's kid too.
unidentifiedbomb is offline  
Old 05-19-2019, 05:03 PM
  #30  
::CF Administrator::
 
Rogue4x4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Blunt, South Dakota
Posts: 14,465
Received 770 Likes on 524 Posts
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
Default

I've watched this thread from the get go.

Told myself "Don't get involved, let it run it's course"...decided to do an experiment.

The scientific process consists of making an observation, asking a question, form a hypothesis, make a prediction, test that prediction, and use results to either answer the question or repeat the process to get answers.

Observation: Bimmer makes a post
Question: Will this be like every other Bimmer post?
Hypothesis: I believe it will be
Prediction:: It will end like every other Bimmer post, with him admitting defeat, declaring all jeeps are impossible to work on, and should be left to professional mechanics
Test: let Bimmer continue and await expected results
Result: Bimmer admits defeat without ever really trying ot listening to advice given, then rants about how jeeps are impossible to work on and only mechanics can do it, while making more money than doctors and lawyers combined.

No need for further testing, as this same series of experiments has been happening for years here, even after multiple bans and many, MANY TOTY awards
Rogue4x4 is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Alternator replacement on a 1998 XJ. (1998 only)



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 12:56 PM.